The SCR will update automatically every time this information changes on the patient’s GP record.

Extra information that may be included with the patient’s consent include:

Reason for medication

Blood test results, such as INR results or lithium levels

Immunisations

Significant diagnoses/problems

Significant procedures

Palliative or End of Life Care information and patient preferences

Other anticipatory care preferences, if recorded by GP

Any other important information that the patient and GP agree

Sensitive issues are not included, unless the patient specifically asks for them to be. For example:

Fertility treatments

Sexually transmitted infections and treatments

Terminations

Gender reassignment

When to use SCR

During the trial with community pharmacies, SCR was used for the purpose of providing an emergency supply of medication out of hours. SCR can be used in situations where the pharmacist or technician considers it to be appropriate in their professional judgement.

Scenarios where SCR could be used include:

Essential services

When dispensing prescriptions to check the current medicines, medicine history, allergies or adverse reactions to support patient care.

To confirm medicines prescribed after hospital in-patient treatment are current.

To support self-care for public health services and promote healthy lifestyles- to confirm what medicines the patient is taking.

Advanced services

During an MUR to confirm and compare medicines currently being prescribed for the patient and their known allergy status.

During the provision of the New Medicine Service.

Locally commissioned services

When supplying medicines under a locally commissioned service, such as a minor ailments service, to check the current medicines.

If you have a legitimate relationship with the patient ie you are actually involved in the patient’s care at that point in time.

When you have the patient’s permission to view it, unless the patient is unable to give consent and you believe it is in the patient’s best interest.

You must record the reason for accessing the records.

How to use SCR

To get setup with SCR:

Complete the CPPE online SCR training. Enable data sharing on the CPPE website so that the RA can confirm completion of the training.

Complete the terms of use agreement.

Request the correct Role Based Access Control (RBAC) added to your smartcard profile by the RA.

Read and sign the SCR SOP for your pharmacy.

Make sure you know who your SCR governance person ( previously Privacy Officer) is and their contact details and any associated process requirements specific to SCR.

To access SCR each time:

Log in with your own smartcard on a computer system in the dispensary or consultation room

Access the portal and then select 'Launch Summary Care Record'. It is advisable to save this to your desktop or favourites.

Obtain patient consent.

Search for the patient, ideally using NHS number but if this is not yet known, using surname, DOB, postcode etc.

Select the right patient.

Record permission to view.

Remember:Locum pharmacists logged on with the locum ODS code (FFFFF) must ALWAYS select the “provide more information about the access” (optional) link and enter the ODS code of the site or branch where the access is taking place into the box before clicking yes.

View SCR.

Once the required information is obtained log off from the patient SCR.

SCR governance person

As part of the governance of SCR, pharmacies using SCR are required to have a SCR governance person. It is good practice for there to be more than one governance person to avoid a governance person auditing their own access alerts. It is the job of these governance people to validate any alerts that are generated in the course of the organisation accessing SCRs.

The purpose of the SCR governance person role is to manage alerts and to audit SCR viewing activity. The alert notifications are prompts to the governance person to investigate SCR access and to confirm justifiable use or to identify inappropriate access.